A Quick Overview of the High Holidays

The most important time of the Jewish year is often the most misunderstood. Here's all the basics you need to know.

The High Holiday period actually begins in Elul, the Hebrew month preceding Rosh Hashana. Elul is an important period of introspection, of clarifying life's goals, and of coming closer to God. Because when the big day of Rosh Hashana comes, and each individual stands before the Almighty to ask for another year, we'll want to know what we're asking for!

During Elul, many people perform a daily cheshbon – a spiritual accounting ― where we step back and look at ourselves critically and honestly, with the intention of improving.

In order to arouse us to this task, it is the Ashkenazi custom to blow the shofar every morning after prayers during the month of Elul.

Historically, this month has great significance, because it was on the first day of Elul that Moses ― following the sin of the Golden Calf ― ascended Mount Sinai to receive a new, second set of stone tablets. Forty days later ― on the seminal Yom Kippur ― Moses returned to the people with tablets in hand, signaling a repair of the breech between the Jewish people and God.

High Holiday preparations intensify on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashana, when we recite "Slichot," a special series of prayers that includes the powerful "13 Attributes of Mercy."

Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year, commemorating the creation of Adam and Eve, the first human beings. On Rosh Hashana, the Books of Life and Death are open on the heavenly desk. On this "Day of Judgment," we each stand before God and offer our best case for being "created anew" ― i.e. granted another year of life.

The morning before Rosh Hashana, we perform "Hatarat Nedarim" ― annulling all vows. This enables us to enter the new year with a clean slate.

The essential mitzvah of Rosh Hashana is to hear the sounding of the shofar.The shofar blasts represent three distinct themes of the day:

The shofar is also mindful of the biblical story of Abraham binding his son Isaac, when a ram was caught in the thicket and sacrificed in Isaac's stead. We blow a ram's horn to recall the great act of faith in God performed by Abraham and Isaac; tradition records that this event occurred on the day of Rosh Hashana.

The shofar is not blown when Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbat.

A central part of Rosh Hashana is the festive meal. During the High Holidays, a round challah is used ― symbolizing fullness and completion. We dip the bread into honey, and also an apple into honey, symbolizing our prayer for a sweet new year. On Rosh Hashana, we also eat a series of foods that symbolize good things we hope for in the coming year.

It is customary to greet others with the words: "L'shana Tova ― Ketivah vi-chatima Tova." This means: "For a good year ― You should be written and sealed in the good (Book of Life)."

The "Tashlich" prayer is said on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashana by a pool of water that preferably has fish in it. These prayers are symbolic of the casting away of our mistakes. When the first day of Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbat, it is said on the afternoon of the second day.

While the decision for "another year of life" is handed down on Rosh Hashana, the verdict is not "sealed" unto Yom Kippur. Therefore, the 10 days from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur are a crucial period when most peoples' judgment "hangs in the balance." During these "Ten Days of Repentance," we engage in intense introspection, and are particularly careful with our speech, actions, and mitzvah observance.

Yom Kippur

Following the Golden Calf, Moses pleaded with God to forgive the Jewish people. Finally, on Yom Kippur, atonement was achieved and Moses brought the second set of Tablets down from Mount Sinai. From that day forward, every Yom Kippur has carried with it a special power to cleanse the mistakes of Jews (both individually and collectively) and to wipe the slate clean.

Yom Kippur is thus the holiest day of the Jewish year. In order to help us achieve a high spiritual level, there are five areas of physical involvement which we remove ourselves from on Yom Kippur:

eating and drinking

washing

applying oils or lotions to the skin

marital relations

wearing leather shoes

The Yom Kippur fast begins before sundown, and extends 25 hours until the following nightfall.

Though Yom Kippur atones for transgressions against God, this does not include wrongs committed against our fellow human beings. It is therefore the universal Jewish custom ― sometime before Yom Kippur ― to apologize and seek forgiveness from any friends, relative, or acquaintances whom we may have harmed or insulted over the past year.

The High Holidays are followed five days later by Sukkot, a holiday of immense joy, where we express our complete trust in God, and celebrate our confidence in having received a "good judgment" for the coming year.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Rabbi Shraga Simmons grew up trekking through snow in Buffalo, New York, enjoying summers as a tour guide at Niagara Falls. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is the co-founder of Aish.com, and founder of the Torah study site, JewishPathways.com. He is also the co-founder of HonestReporting.com, and author of "David & Goliath", the definitive treatment of media bias against Israel (2012). He lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 13

(13)
andy,
September 28, 2008 2:59 PM

is it possible G-d goes missing?Like in the darkest and sadeest moments of ouer lives..like in the camps..

(12)
Anonymous,
September 26, 2007 12:53 AM

articles are easy reading and easy to understand

I am a Registered Nurse seeking my Bachelors degree. The course I'm in now is Transcultural Nursing. We have an assignment to do about different cultural holidays and celebrations. I chose a Jewish holiday because my step-father is Jewish and my mom converted to Judaism when they married.Your site is wonderful and easy for someone of another faith to read and understand.I have enjoyed learning about my roots.Thank-youAmanda Hunt

(11)
Linda Israel,
September 18, 2007 5:58 PM

This has been very inlightening and helped me get back to understanding the holidays as I converted years ago and then divorced and really miss going to Temple.

(10)
Rhonda,
September 16, 2007 7:29 PM

forgiveness

Forgiveness is a powerful drug that affects the person that offers it in a mighty way. God gives You a sense of peace because He is taking care of the situation and you don't have to. However,forgiving that person should not mean that you are now required to be unprepared for the next assault from the forgiven...if they hurt you again tell them so and pray for them...forgiveness is not equated with the forgiver being required to become continually abused by the same person.

(9)
Timothy Hinkle,
September 6, 2007 3:54 AM

Very informative short synopsis of High Holy Days

I am a Catholic. My great grandpa was aJew, who married an Irish Catholic woman. I have always revered & respected my family's religious roots.Your deep insights into Jewish Tradition and beliefs help me very muchto derive the basics and the best of the two great religions. Your reflections aid me in seeing andimproving myself.

(8)
Anonymous,
October 2, 2006 6:00 PM

getting an understanding of these holidays

very inlightening

(7)
Anonymous,
September 24, 2006 12:12 PM

a comment for Gisele

I have been in your shoes before, I have asked others for forgiveness and they either do not accept it or continue holding a grudge. The way that God has spoken to my heart about this is; "give your brother or your sister grace". I think that even if I may not have their forgiveness its more important that I fulfill God's will by asking for it. I am freed not by their acceptance of my apology but I am free because I have done right by offering a sincere apology. Do not tire of fulfilling your part, grant grace and God will always give you favor. I don't want to disagree with your rabbi's advice but i will say that let God judge a person's heart, I have accepted apologies which I "felt" were insencere solely for the purpose of practicing a "graceful attitude" towards that person, I mean if that's all they can offer, I take it (that's just me)! While I acccept their "apology" it doesn't mean I naively assume that they are well-intended or re-establish a friendship. I think its okay to be reconciled in the faith but not necessarily reconciled in the human aspects of the relationship once had; it takes a loooong time to heal wounds. I hope this helps! Great that you are the "apologizing" kind, I think in the end you will see God's mercy in a deeper & more beautiful way! aren't you blessed?? peace Diana

(6)
Gisele,
September 18, 2006 4:07 PM

What is the true meaning of Michilah?

I feel that so many in our Klal do not know the True Meaning of Asking, and Granting Michilah/forgiveness. I have seen sevral people in my life do the following out of fear that Hashem will not forgive their sins, so they go, and ask for forgiveness, than when Yom Kippur, and or Hashanah Raba is over, they are back hurting you like their apology had no meaning. I am so tired of having people treat me this way.I am not perfect, but when I do apologize for hurting anyone in my life- Jew/ or non Jew- I am sincere in my apology, and I make a very sincere, and earnest effort to not do that harmful act again.I recently asked a Rav about this issue, and he said that an insincere apology should not be accepted, and there is no sin no matter how many times that the person asks for Michalah if it is not done with contrite expression, you are not obligated to accept it. It is like a person continuing to violate one of Hashem's Dinim, and while he is still sinning he asks Hashem for forgiveness, Hashem sees this as not sincere, so the same applies to asking Michalah of people! What do the readers of this site think of this? I would like to hear your views during this Yom Hanorim Zeman. Thanks for reading this, and Shanah Tovah to all.Gisele

(5)
Michael,
September 15, 2006 8:48 PM

Excellant.

Thank you to all the staff of AISH.COM. May the Almighty be always with you all.

(4)
ronna salinger,
September 14, 2004 12:00 AM

l'shana tova rabbi,

thank you for developing the enclosed presentation. extremely informative and enjoyable. i have forwarded the enclosed to all the people i am in contact with.
may the new year truly bring peace to our troubled world.
thank you for all your efforts,
ronna salinger

(3)
stacey roth,
September 12, 2004 12:00 AM

fantastic !!!

The High Holidays site that Aish have put together is fantastic. Firstly it is very user friendly. Secondly there is such a wide variety of information for all aspects of the chag: spiritual prepararion, kid's entertainment and of course the cooking. thanks you so much for all the hard work that went into putting this together. it is very much appreciated.

(2)
Eleanor Brown,
September 7, 2004 12:00 AM

Very good.

I will forward this to both adults and children. Everyone can benefit from this.

(1)
Anonymous,
September 1, 2004 12:00 AM

Informative, well written reminder

Found the article well written and informative. Also motivation to celebrate all the auxilliary rituals.